Long weekends can be a blessing and a curse. I feel like I should get some jobs done about the house or do some more reading but I get itchy feet and need to get out of the house. So, Saturday morning I took off at sunrise to Thompson Beach for a wader count and to photograph some birds. Sadly, the southern section of beach was a little 'light-on' compared with previous visits. I managed to snap a few pictures of the surrounds, as on a calm morning, its a beautiful and tranquil place to spend some time.
Above : The view looking south, great remnant coastal vegetation (typical of the site) with Mount Lofty in the background.
Above : Masses of weed wash up on the shore, making walking on shore difficult and often wet, but it provides the perfect camouflage for birds like Ruddy Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit and Pacific Golden Plover.
Above : Perfectly still, for once!
In scanning the beach I saw the usual birds, albeit in lesser numbers, Grey Plover, Common Greenshank, Red-necked Stint, Pacific Gull and Silver Gull. One thing I wasn't counting on seeing was a lone Curlew Sandpiper in partial breeding plumage. As I moved closer to get a decent photo I took one step too many and it took off along with the Stint's and Greenshank's it was roosting with. Dang!
A little further south along the shoreline, hidden amongst the weed, was a little gang of four Pacific Golden Plover. These birds have been in the what seems like the same spot for the last month or two. I was relieved to be honest, as I had driven all of the way to Thompson's in the hope of getting a better picture of them before they depart for the Northern Hemisphere. I shot about 40 pictures of them in total, none of them really doing justice to the gold flecking in their plumage....maybe I need some disco lighting??? Here's an example....
After a quick bit of scoping and photography at Thompson's I returned home to take on my role as 'Domestor' the handyman...but 'Domestor' only completed about two and half minutes of housework before he became 'Distractor'.
Once again, hatching plans of where to get to in order to see some birds. I asked for some leave....it was soon granted. I planned to hit Gluepot and return Monday morning and soon began packing the Troopy. I set off at 3:30 and hit the highway from Gawler via Nuriootpa and onwards toward Waikerie. But I was feeling uneasy about just flying off in pursuit of birds when I have other 'resposibilities' waiting for me at home...and a great 2 year old daughter and a very understanding and loving partner. I got cold feet (they had turned from itchy to cold....amazing feet!) and turned off of the highway where it's signposted 'Yookamurra Sanctuary' heading to the east. I had always wanted to visit Yookamurra, given its interesting history, so I reached a compromise in my own head, spend a few hours in this section of Mallee, see some birds and get home by late evening....and resume role as 'responsible' father/partner.
It was a good decision in retrospect. Although I was unable to get into Yookamurra (by appointment only...) I found some great spots not too far away. Just 200m before sighting the homestead/buildings of the sanctuary I stopped to find a large mob of Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, one of my favourite little arid land specialists! At the end of the same road that Yookamurra is situated on (barely 500m on?) I stopped the car to have a look and listen. And sure enough, I heard the piping whistle of a Gilbert's Whistler coming from a tree not 5 metres from the roadside! I was pretty chuffed as this is a bird I've only seen briefly before, and at some distance, whilst at Gluepot earlier this year.
Below : not the most 'technically proficient' shot I've taken but it gave me a little chuckle all the same.
1,2,3,...jump!
I got great views of this bird along with White-fronted Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater and managed to pull a 'lifer' out of my hat in the form of a White-eared Honeyeater too. Not the most elusive of birds, but elusive enough that I have not managed to get onto one in my recent Mallee visits. A little further along the road that follows the pipeline towards Swan Reach I stopped to find a decent number of Chestnut-crowned Babblers, Southern Whiteface and White-fronted Chat all giving great views as if to thank me for selecting their little patch instead of the more glamorous Gluepot. After all this excitement I returned home to check out my photo's, get some rest and see my family.
....and to hatch more stupid plans of where to head next.
Wati Tjulpu
No comments:
Post a Comment